This is probably the dumbest post you'll ever see, I admit, but here's what Bono said about the new album in the Uncut Magazine article (which Dougal55 posted in the Bono & Underworld thread in EYIW):

"And it is otherworldly - it's kind of punk rock made on Venus rather than Mars."

And that's supposed to tell us what, exactly, you may ask? I love how Bono says so little by giving the impression he's saying so much! Very enduring quality, isn't it? The guy is the master of hype. I think I know what he's on about, but I'd like to hear your guesses...

if I'm not mistaken, Mars has a weaker gravitational pull than Venus. Thus, if one were to be making punk rock on Mars, it would be of the lighter, more atmospheric sort. Conversely, that made on Venus would undoubtedly be of a weightier nature.

Originally posted by Homerpalooza Or he means it's punk rock with the testosterone turned down...

Homerpalooza wins the scooza!! First prize - the chance to buy a new U2 album in spring, 2004!

Of course, a valiant effort put in my Dorian Gray. There will be a different "gravitational" pull on this new record... and that goes both musically and thematically... at least, that's what I'd have to go with...

__________________"Mediocrity is never so dangerous as when it is dressed up as sincerity." - Søren Kierkegaard

Ian McCulloch the U2 fan:
"Who buys U2 records anyway? It's just music for plumbers and bricklayers. Bono, what a slob. You'd think with all that climbing about he does, he'd look real fit and that. But he's real fat, y'know. Reminds me of a soddin' mountain goat."
"And as for Bono, he needs a colostomy bag for his mouth."

No, no, no, oh young and impressionable one (joke)... It simply means it's not full out testosterone punk - but how much of U2's music is full out testosterone? I don't think I can think of one song that is, actually. Their music dabbles in every colour of the spectrum, every shade, every mood. If they released a punk album (not saying this is a punk album, by the way), then why expect that aspect of U2 to be any different than usual? Vulnerability is a big part of U2's music. In our society, that's more of a feminine trait... but it's something that U2 aren't afraid to embrace. Even Johnny Cash, the man who Bono said made everyone else look like a sissy, was always a vulnerable artist, always exposed himself in his work, always was in touch with his emotive side.

Yes, that's right... I guess Bono is saying the head of the album is in the masculine space of punk rock, but it's symbolically being balanced by keeping its feet on the feminine ground which is Venus.